And You Thought You Were Safe

Did you know that cancer is preventable? Some of the most common transmissible viruses trigger the development of cancer, arthritis, autoimune conditions and other serious disease. Most people aren't aware that micro-organisms can cause this much devastation in our lives? It happened in the Middle Ages when an estimated 50-75 per cent of the European human population was killed off by a simple bacterium. In the 20th century, nearly 25 million people were killed by a simple flu virus, that we still have no cure for to this day. Today, these invisible micro-organisms are becoming increasingly clever, developing resistance to the medicines we have, and more efficient ways of establishing permanent infection in us. Micro-organisms are the microscopic life-forms that dwell on our skin, in our mouths, nose, ears, inside of us, and in our environments. Every person has a unique set of micro-organisms living on them. It's when we acquire new micro-organisms from other people or our surroundings, that the trouble begins. In fact, something as harmless as transmitting saliva from a simple kiss can cause a virtual bacterial war in our intestines, leading to acute or prolonged bowel disease. Find out how you can prevent cancer, arthritis, and many other illnesses in this fascinating text that illustrates the daily threats to our lives from micro-organisms.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface Chapter 1 Our world A time-line of disease through the ages: "Man's nemesis in the making" Chapter 2 Microorganisms, microbes and "beasties" Defining the invisible Chapter 3 Susceptibility and response to infection "A most cruel game of poker" Chapter 4 Natural defences to infection Keeping out the unwanted guests Chapter 5 Nonspecific immune defences "Laboratory 101" of the immune system Chapter 6 Nonspecific immune defences: Part II The monocyte-macrophage system Chapter 7 Antigen-specific immunity The core of the immune system Chapter 8 Viruses The dead killing the living Chapter 9 Bacteria The original dictators of the world Chapter 10 Fungi Chapter 11 Parasites Chapter 12 Prions Chapter 13 A pill for everything Chapter 14 A day in the life of "the microbe dodger" Conclusion Appendix A An alphabetical listing of relevant bacteria having the ability to infect humans, diseases they can cause and some common medical terms associated with these microorganisms. Appendix B An alphabetical listing of relevant fungi with the ability to infect humans, diseases they can cause and some common medical terms associated with these microorganisms. Appendix C An alphabetical listing of relevant parasites, which include humans in part of their life cycle, diseases they can cause and some common medical terms associated with these microorganisms. Appendix C is divided into two parts. Part I is dedicated to parasites with the ability to infect the urogenital and gastrointestinal systems and those with the ability to infect the blood and tissues. Part II is dedicated to multicellular Nematodes (roundworms), Cestodes (tapeworms) and Trematodes (flukes). Appendix D An alphabetical listing of viruses with the ability to infect humans, diseases they can cause and some common medical terms associated with these microorganisms.

About the Author :
Dr Ken James author of several texts and paperbacks, lived in the United States for more than 25 years, being educated in 5 top universities. He lived in the West Indies for several years, and Europe for more than a decade, completing his medical doctorate, and developing his writing career based on his research. Many of his topics are controversial issues regarding disease, psychology, and psychiatry.